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I've mentioned this before but it continually amazes me that tall boots are not in fashion for guys - either with or without heels. Here in England we've not really had a summer this year, especially up north where I live, and lately it has been far more like late October than late August. With cold hard rain, wind and chilly temperatures being the norm, boot season has arrived early - and once again I am happy be warm snug in my knee and OTK boots. The difference in warmth and comfort between wearing them and regular 'guy' shoes is startling. Not all of my tall boots have heels - it's about fifty-fifty - but all are perceived as feminine because boots have an element of theatre to them and that's considered a feminine attribute. Guys are not supposed to indulge in theatre when it comes to fashion, but to be all business and practical. But in cold weather boots could hardly be more practical. Surely they could be made fashionable for men? Perhaps if there were seen more? Obviously I'm doing my little part, but alas I doubt many people are going to be looking to a bohemian bargee for their style cues.

I think that the reason men do not wear tall boots outside of necessity (equestrian, parade uniform, etc.) is due to two reasons. First, a man wearing tall boots simply for the pleasure of doing so (heel height notwithstanding) may make that person appear a bit eccentric. The same could be said for a man (on this side of the Atlantic) wearing a beret or fedora, an ascot, or a cape. All of these may be perfectly fine items to wear at most anytime and, in fact, may be specifically designed for men but given how they may be viewed others, men would not want to wear them. It seems to me that most men are more comfortable in simply putting together an outfit very quickly and without much thought or fanfare rather than incorporating any sort of style into it. There are certainly occasions when this is appropriate, such as when one is running errands or may become sweating or dirty. I tend to think that for most men, however, the greatest effort they will extend in creating some degree of a fashionable/dressy outfit comes when they have to wear a jacket and necktie to some function/event. Second, it is rather clear that society is more concerned with quick comfort than class or elegance. Take a look at photographs of travelers (via airlines) in the 1950s. It is fairly noticeable that both men and women put effort into appearance for traveling. Photographs of crowds from our parents time (at least mine) show men and women dressed in "better" attire even for "routine" gatherings. And now? When you are at an airport, do you observe anyone (other than me) dressed up for the flight? Instead, one is bound to see torn jeans, flip-flops, and other clothing that is probably more appropriate for lounging around at home than being in public. Thus, the lack of any standards has certainly helped create a culture where putting some degree of effort into what is worn in public is no longer important, especially to today's younger folks. I'm sorry, but wearing "jeans" in public that are missing more fabric than that which is actually holding them together means they should be thrown away or more likely, not bought in the first place. Anyways.... I very much enjoy wearing tall boots and will do so in the future, and cannot wait for the arrival of cooler autumn weather to start doing so again. I have progressed to the point where I really do not give a [care] if someone thinks I look awkward, silly, ridiculous, or whatever. If they feel that way, that is their problem, not mine. I tend to think that those individuals who put effort into appearance when such is not required of them are seen as being somewhat eccentric when excessively casual seems to be the accepted norm/approach. For those who are interested, attached are photos of tall boots outfits I have worn to the office or out in public - simple but yet displaying some degree of style

For sure! Hoping I can join you sometime with my tall cowgirl boots and gloss black Hunter rain boots!

Exactly. Well fitting shoes are essential, high heeled or not. I had some (well padded) trainers some years ago that were badly made and the inner sole had a nasty edge on it, unnoticeable at first, that made hamburger out of my right foot. By the logic of people who write articles about heels, I should be condemning trainers as articles of torture, instead of simply noting they were badly made. Certainly no pair of heels messed up my feet like those!

I get the fact that heels are not as popular as they once were, and a lot of that has to do with the fact that women aren't expected or required to wear heels anymore. This, coupled with the fact that everyone, and I mean everyone, even those who supposedly love and live in heels, sets people up with the caveat, "Well, you just have to push through the pain. It's the cost of beauty." Even the author of this article said that, despite her professed fondness for heels, her feet and ankles were messed up from years of wearing heels at the law firm. My first question is, "Why did you let this happen?" There is no need for any of that. We know this. Why doesn't anybody else know it?

Replacements? Yikes!!! Have you had any problems wearing heels due to the new joints?

Yes, some cyclists used to do that but for what specific purpose no one can say - lots of ideas but none of them actually bear scrutiny. It was fine because it was done and therefor the thing to do! Silly.

Regardless of the weather I feel certain that there is a latent desire out there for a greater more daring choice in footwear among men and that tall boots would be a saleable proposition is marketed intelligently.

Yeah, the weather here has been brutal this week! It's not even boot season inside! Like you, can not wait for the cooler weather to break out my favorite boots!

I definitely do my part. Boot season is my fav. I am packed with otk and even thigh high. Prob 10 if that with no heel. Over 100 degrees in Chicago the last couple days. Definitely no boot weather. More like stay inside weather!

I know you do!

Hey, I do my part with knee high boots.

Yes, if you’re not riding a horse or a motorcycle - in short, have some accepted practical use for tall boots - you shouldn’t be wearing them, according to the uptight rules governing men’s fashion. Adding heels makes them even more unacceptable, but even flat soled knee and OTK boots will raise eyebrows if worn by a man. I wear knee and OTK boots as a matter of course, mainly low heeled ones given the fact that I live along muddy towpaths. To be fair I’ve only had a few comments - and nothing overtly negative - but it does surprise me that more men don’t wear them. It seems like this is one bit of formerly masculine fashion that we could reclaim

It's kind of a curious thing, isn't it? Here in Middle America, it has become way more acceptable for men to wear a wider variety of colors, and pink has become a favorite on the construction site. Maybe it's the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign that did it, but nobody even bothers to mention anything anymore if a guy shows up in a pink shirt, even if it's not Friday. However, outside of equestrian circles, I do not see tall boots on men around here. With one exception: Latino laborers. Maybe not knee high, but they often wear their boots on the outsides of their pants. Plenty of men still wear cowboy boots around here, but always on the inside, and I doubt we've got any secret knee-high Luccheeses underneath there.